Album review: Gaerea – Loss

By DAN SOUTHALL

PORTUGAL’s Gaerea have spent the best part of the last 10 years developing a black and post black metal soundscape that is easy to get lost amongst. Across the span of their last two releases, they have found themselves among some of my own personal favourite go-to music. So when the taster tracks released for new album Loss were first released, it pointed to massive changes within the band’s musical landscape.

With almost no fucking about, “Luminary” makes a startling point of easing both the hardcore fan and casual listener into the new-found direction, blasting and rattling along intently for the opening couple of minutes before dropping their load on us and charging in the new direction. Blasts give way to massive Gojira-like groove before bowing out entirely with some clean singing.  

This more modern approach continues into “Submerged” and “Hellbound” as Gaera attack the tracks like Architects covers with added aggression, blast beats the only pointer to the musical path they have trodden before.

Where other bands have tried these kinds of musical expressions and failed, Gaerea manage to make the modern metal approach continually work in their favour, mixing in typical elements while reaching for something else. There are plenty of surprises, such as the heavy electronic feel of “LBRNTH” or the melancholy of album closer “Stardust”, heaving under the weight of its obvious subject matter. 

Loss is an album really needs to be heard to be discussed. I could write about every track endlessly and how impressed I am with the direction the band have taken, but that couldn’t do justice to the intensity and scope that is squarely in Gaerea’s sights.

Gaerea are known for their privacy and anonymity, but clearly  someone has suffered a huge private loss, such as a loved one, and the pain and questions asked are the evolution that comes with it. The nearest album I could compare it to is Gojira’s Magma, where they softened their approach to focus on grief. But where that felt like a shock and has been something I could never ‘get’, everything on this album just feels like it works. 

Loss may not be what some fans are going to want but it is what they have And it is huge and awesome to behold. Grab your headphones, close your eyes and allow yourself to be immersed in the Loss.

Get Loss on vinyl